Could It Really Be Such A Coincidence?

By the time Kaguya returned to the capital, it was already evening.

The sky had darkened, and the scorching sun had set. The afterglow of the sunset cast a brilliant red across the clouds. Lights began to illuminate the city, the noise of the day gradually fading away as the bustling crowds on the streets disappeared.

The night in the capital seemed even more silent than elsewhere, perhaps due to the curfew, leaving the city cold and quiet, with only the flickering lights providing a hint of warmth.

"Whew, I made it in."

Kaguya breathed a sigh of relief. She had thought that there would be fewer guards at night, but the nighttime security was even tighter. Moreover, many officers participated in the search, and they were skilled individuals, not much of a threat to Kaguya but proficient in reconnaissance.

To avoid the Imperial soldiers' patrols, Kaguya had to use her wits.

She needed to return to the palace quickly. Although she was a reclusive princess who likely wouldn't draw attention, it was better to be safe than sorry.

"Growl." Kaguya's stomach rumbled, betraying her hunger. She hadn't eaten anything since morning and was beginning to feel the pangs of hunger.

Perhaps due to replenishing her internal energy, Kaguya felt particularly hungry. It was similar to Akame, whose appetite was quite large, and Kurome, who constantly snacked on cookies—both of them replenishing their energy. Since energy is conserved, most people get it from food.

Kaguya's foot had fully healed, thanks to this energy replenishment.

Of course, some could directly draw energy from nature or the universe, and at that level, they wouldn't need food. However, Kaguya hadn't reached that point yet.

Just then, the sound of a carriage came from afar. The "clip-clop" of hooves was particularly loud in the quiet night.

Kaguya frowned slightly. These Imperial soldiers were relentless, like shadows that wouldn't go away. She was about to leave when she realized that it wasn't the Imperial Army but a carriage followed by several guards. They were armored and carried swords, but their gear wasn't standard Imperial issue; they looked more like private mercenaries.

After resting a bit, Kaguya felt her strength returning and was about to leave when the carriage stopped in front of her. The door opened, and a young girl stepped out.

The girl had shoulder-length golden hair and a clear face. She wore a white blouse, a light blue skirt, and pale white shoes, looking very gentle—a typical noble.

"Are you going again, Miss?" one of the carriage guards asked.

"What can I do? It's just my nature."

The noble girl said as she walked toward Kaguya, her face warm and smiling. "If you don't have a place to stay, would you like to come to my house?"

"Really?" Kaguya smiled playfully. She had an inkling of who this girl was from her lines, outfit, and classic carriage. "But I think this place is pretty nice."

"Don't be stubborn; there's no way this place could be comfortable," the noble girl laughed. "Besides, if you sleep outside, you might catch a cold."

"Miss Aria just can't leave someone like you alone," a guard behind the noble girl said.

"You should be grateful and go along with her wishes," another guard added.

"What do you say?" Aria smiled.

"Well, it's better than sleeping on the street." Kaguya's lips curled into a smile.

So it is her.

"That settles it then." Aria smiled, her eyes forming crescent moons.

Kaguya climbed into Aria's carriage, and they drove toward her home.

Aria was indeed a noble, as her home's garden attested.

It was a vast and beautiful mansion, luxurious enough to rival the palace. In front of the mansion lay a large green lawn, with pine trees planted along the road.

At the end of the path was a grand European-style building with white walls and red tiles, very imposing.

The interior of the mansion was even more splendid. The walls were carved from marble, with lamps shining brightly. The floor was covered with blue and orange wool carpets, and a massive crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling.

Although it was luxurious, the place felt gloomy to Kaguya, making her uncomfortable.

As Kaguya entered, she noticed others were already present.

A man and a woman sat in the main seats, appearing to be the mansion's owners, likely Aria's parents. The middle-aged man was somewhat plump, smiling warmly and seeming kind. The woman had a graceful appearance, exuding a gentle and approachable demeanor that made people feel at ease.

To Kaguya's surprise, there were two others on the sofa: a young man and a young woman.

The young man had short hair and a headband, with a somewhat handsome appearance.

The young woman was even more striking. She was very beautiful, with long black hair reaching her waist, a delicate face, curved eyebrows, moist eyes, and fair skin. She wore a white butterfly hair ornament and a black short robe, with white socks and wooden sandals—a truly beautiful girl.

They seemed quite young, around Kaguya's age, or even younger. They exuded youthful energy, yet had a touch of innocence, marking them as novices to the world.

The table was laden with a variety of dishes, the aroma enticing and mouth-watering, causing one's mouth to water. There were also several bottles of red wine.

Kaguya was familiar with this wine, as her residence had similar bottles. It was said to come from vineyards in distant lands, where the climate and sunlight made the wine more delicious and fragrant than others.

"Aria brought someone back again," the male owner said with a smile.

"Oh dear, it's become a habit," the female owner smiled warmly. "How many is this now?"

"Mother," Aria said discontentedly.

"By the way, we haven't asked your name yet," the male owner said to Kaguya with a smile.

"My name is Kaguya." Kaguya's eyelashes fluttered as she smiled softly.

"No need to be formal here," the male owner said, his face kind. "These two are also guests today."